A Dole Compromise

Abortion Statement Shows The Master At His Best

June 11, 1996

Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole made an astute political move last week when he said he would ask the party to insert a "declaration of tolerance" into its platform when it meets in August. With this one simple statement, Dole may have taken the heart out of a movement to force a floor fight over the abortion plank of the platform at the party's nominating convention.

More importantly, if Dole can persuade the pro-lifers to calm their voices, to be less shrill, to actually demonstrate some tolerance toward fellow Republicans who disagree with them on this single issue, he may be taking a giant step toward winning the presidency. A hard line on abortion might not send abortion-rights supporters running to the Democratic Party in November, but it could very well cause them to stay at home, subtracting from Dole's numbers.

Inserting the declaration of tolerance is not a done deal just because Dole suggested it. Although a party's presidential candidate can normally dictate such things, the abortion issue is different. Opponents rarely accept any compromise on the issue, so they may resist. But if the platform does call for tolerance - accepting other Republicans who support legal abortion - the opponents won't have any other option than to vote for Dole. For them, strengthening Bill Clinton's hand by not voting would be the worst possible outcome.

Dole, in his role as Senate majority leader, was sometimes criticized for being willing to compromise with his opponents. But in his solution to the abortion issue dilemma, he demonstrated the value of striking a deal.